Keeping Your Eyes on the Prize

Micmoor’s conversation with his doctor about his high cholesterol and a history of heart attacks in his family prompted him to change his lifestyle. He has lost 63lbs by revamping his eating habits and adding exercise to his daily routine.

1. What made you decide to lose weight this time?

In June 2009, I reviewed my cholesterol test results with my doctor. My total cholesterol was 249, much higher than it should have been for a 35-year-old man. Having lost my father to a heart attack when he was 41, the news about my cholesterol caught my attention. I realized I couldn’t keep eating whatever I wanted. I had to make some changes to my lifestyle and apply some effort to my health.

2. What other “diets” (programs, products, plans, or services) had you tried in the past?

My wife and I had done Wieght Watchers together around eight years ago and I lost 35 pounds. But over time I gained that weight back and then some.

3. What changes did you make to your usual diet, activity, lifestyle, and attitude?

My doctor referred me to a dietician who helped me come up with some ideas to try to replace what I was eating with healthier, lower calorie options. She asked me to simply drop 500 calories a day from my usual routine. In past attempts to lose weight I relied on my wife to prepare my food. She prepared it and I would eat it and I would lose weight. But this time I didn’t want to depend on someone else, so I committed to a new eating plan and I began preparing my breakfast and lunch and started taking my food to work each day.

4. How did Calorie Count help you to lose weight?

I wanted a way to track my calories so I ended up finding this great website – Calorie Count. In the beginning, I logged everything I ate, but that became tiresome quickly so I began using the site for two simple things: looking up calorie information when I was unsure about something and logging my weight. I weigh myself daily and I enter my weight in the website. It tracks total weight loss and charts my progress. I find it helpful to have this daily checkpoint.

5. What was most challenging about losing weight?

The most challenging thing for me was being patient and giving myself time to see results.

6. How long did it take you to see results?

I lost weight in my first week which wasn’t surprising given the dramatic change in eating and the addition of exercise to my lifestyle.

7. When did you realize that you were a success?

I realized I was a success after about three months when I had lost thirty pounds and was continuing to lose weight. I also noticed my personal training sessions were paying off, because I could feel muscle tone in places where I previously did not.

8. How do you prevent relapse?

I stay focused on the progress I’ve made and the goals I still have for myself. I’ve come to really enjoy exercise and weight training so when I experience any moments of weakness, I read some articles on Calorie Count for inspiration.

9. How has your life changed now that you’ve lost weight?

Life was good before but now it’s even better. I feel stronger and more energetic. I feel better about myself and more confident in work and social settings.

10. What tips do you have for other dieters?

I’d recommend being patient and believing that great results aren’t just for other people, that you’ll get there too, in time.

Also, diet alone would not have worked for me – weight training was a key to my success.

Don’t rely on other people to feed you the right food – you can do it on your own but it will take effort.

Schedule exercise time like it’s an appointment and don’t let people move it on your calendar.

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